Photo of an American avocet against the intense blue background of the water she’s wading in. Her face is white upfront but transitions from her eyes on back over her head and down her neck into a reddish-orange brown, or light russet. Her body is white with black wings which have a white stripe on them. She’s got long, thin ballerina legs. Her bill is dripping water, and some stringy bits of weeds are hanging there. She’s just harvested a tiny red water creature, perfect for breakfast.

Avocets

Scything the water
side to side
with the curved blade of their bills.
Gentle farmers
who sow not
but reap.

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